As the trade deadline approaches, the New York Yankees are once again positioned among MLB’s elite. Their offense is firing on all cylinders, led by Aaron Judge—who’s not only the American League MVP frontrunner but also chasing a potential Triple Crown. The top of the rotation has been excellent, anchored by Max Fried and a resurgent Carlos Rodón.
While the bullpen has been up and down, there’s reason for optimism. Luke Weaver is expected to return next month, and Devin Williams has recently looked much more like his dominant self. Despite missing key stars like Juan Soto (now with the Mets) and Gerrit Cole (out for the year after Tommy John surgery), this version of the Yankees might actually be stronger than the 2024 squad that reached the World Series.
However, there’s still one glaring weakness: third base.
The Yankees attempted to plug that hole by shifting Jazz Chisholm Jr. to third, but that only opened up a new issue at second base—his natural and more effective position. The clear solution? Acquire a legitimate third baseman before the deadline.
ESPN’s Brad Doolittle has suggested an ideal target: Eugenio Suárez of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
In his breakdown of New York’s title odds—currently the best in ESPN’s Stock Watch—Doolittle emphasized the need for both pitching and a power upgrade at third base. With the American League looking less stacked than the NL, the Yankees have a strong path to the postseason, but a big bat like Suárez could make the difference.
Suárez, 33, is putting together another solid season. He’s batting .233 with a .305 OBP and a .514 slugging percentage, along with 19 home runs, 52 RBIs, and an .819 OPS. A proven slugger, he’s hit 30 or more home runs in three of the last four seasons, including a career-high 49 in 2019.
Though not known for his defense, Suárez would be a major offensive upgrade over the Yankees’ current production at third base, where they’ve combined for a flat 0.0 WAR. Suárez alone has already posted 1.2 WAR this season.
What makes him even more appealing is his contract situation. He’s on an expiring deal after Arizona exercised a $15 million club option, making him a potentially affordable rental. With postseason experience (career .810 OPS in playoff games), Suárez could be a key difference-maker in October.
For a team with championship ambitions, the Yankees can’t afford to overlook this opportunity. Upgrading third base with a proven bat like Suárez might be the final piece needed to push them over the top.
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